Nylon strap could have caused East Side crane collapse

Investigators say a nylon strap might have broken while lifting a six-ton piece of steel, sending a crane at 303 East 51st Street crashing down on Saturday. Four construction workers were killed and three more bodies were found yesterday at a townhouse that was crushed by the crane. Patricia Lancaster, the buildings commissioner, said the city would inspect the approximately 250 cranes operating at construction sites around the city.